Drafting templates



Oct. 18, 1955 M. w. LAINE 2,720,706

DRAFTING TEMPLATES Filed May 14, 1952 2 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR. MAUNO W. LAINE Oct. 18, 1955 M. w. LAINE DRAFTING TEMPLATES Filed May 14, 1952 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 zm mrox MAUNO W. LAINE.

A A It United States Patent DRAFTIN G TEMPLATES Mauno W. Laiue, Newport News, Va. Application lVIay 14, 1952, Serial N 0. 287,723 4 Claims. (Cl. 3395) This application relates to drafting instruments and particularly concerns a novel drafting template.

In drafting work it is often necessary to draw many rectangles and squares of the same or various sizes as for organization charts, electrical schematic diagrams, and many other purposes. In conventional practise, a draftsman requires the use of a T square, ruler or scale, pencil, ink and ruling pen when ink tracings are to be made. To draw two rectangles at two separate places on a sheet the draftsman must first scale the horizontal dimension and mark it in with a pencil. Then using a T square and triangle he erects a perpendicular by scaling to the second dimension and marking or drawing it in pencil. Then by moving his T square and triangle twice more, he finishes the other two sides, all in pencil. Then he must rule in either the two vertical or horizontal lines first with ruling pen and ink (making two more moves with his triangle or T square) and after waiting several seconds for the ink to dry, he finishes by ruling in the last two parallel sides. He must use care in the use of his pen so that the corners meet exactly, do not over-run and that his instruments do not slip while ruling. To make another identical rectangle elsewhere on the sheet he must duplicate the above described procedure and unless great care is taken the two rectangles will not be exactly alike. The entire procedure is slow and requires a great deal of skill for proper execution.

With a template device embodying my invention the use of pencil, scale and triangles is eliminated. By merely setting two right angle sections comprising the template at desired scale markings and tightening them in position the template is ready for drawing as many identical inked rectangles as desired.

There is no waiting for the ink to dry. The rectangles have perfectly square corners, all drawn in a single continuous motion. Use of a pencil is unnecessary.

Perfect rectangles and squares can be drawn with my device even by novices in a small fraction of the time now required by conventional methods. As an additional feature the device makes it possible to draw a plurality of rectangles disposed on the are or circumference of a circle which is extremely useful in preparing layouts in postage stamp albums, photograph albums, etc. This difiicult drafting operation is rendered easy and rapid and results are accurate and uniform.

It is therefore an object of the invention to provide a drafting template for drawing a plurality of rectangles and squares of various dimensions more easily and quickly than has heretofore been possible.

It is a further object to provide a drafting template for drawing rectangles disposed on the circumference of a circle.

It is a further object to provide a drafting device for drawing a rectangle in ink in one continuous motion.

For further comprehension of the invention and of the objects and advantages thereof, reference will be had to the following description and accompanying drawings, and to the appended claims in which the various novel features of the invention are more particularly set forth.

In the accompanying drawings forming a material part of this disclosure:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of the device embodying the invention.

Fig. 2 is a sectional view on lines 22 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a plan view illustrating the device as used for drawing a plurality of rectangles on a portion of the circumference of a circle.

Fig. 4 is an elevational sectional view of the radial arm of the device taken on lines 4-4 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 5 is a plan view of a modified form of the invention.

Fig. 6 is a sectional view on lines 6-6 of Fig. 5.

Fig. 7 is a plan view of another modified form of the invention.

The device shown in Figs. 1, 2, 3, and 4 comprises two identical squares 10 and 10 having perpendicularly disposed slots 11 and 12 and 11' and 12 extending substantially the entire length of each arm 13, 14, 13 and 14' of the square. Each arm is marked with a scale in units of length starting with zero (0) at the inside corner of the square. A screw 16 is fastened to a nut 17 adjacent the outside corner of the square on a line with the slots 11 and 12. The purpose of the nut is to elevate the back of the square above the surface of a drawing sheet when in use. Instead of a screw and nut, a depression or a tongue may be struck out at the corner of the square to elevate the back of the square. The squares are assembled together by thumb nuts and 15 and screws 18 and 18 passed through the slots 12 and 11' and 11 and 12' respectively to form a rectangle bordered on all sides by the scale markings on the arms of the squares. The head 19 of each screw 13 and 18 is flattened and equals in thickness that of the nut 17, so that in use the entire body of the template is raised above the surface of the drawing sheet.

A bar 20 is provided which serves as a radial arm for the device. The bar is provided with shoulders 21 which bear on the outside surface 22 of the arm 13. The end of bar 20 has an offset end portion 23 as shown in Fig. 4. Thumb nut 24 and screw 25 holds bar 20 to the arm 13. The bar 20 is slidable along the arm 13' with the screw 24 passing through slot 11. The head 25' of screw 25 has the same thickness as the nut 17 and screw head 19 disposed on both sides of screw 25. A plurality of aligned holes 26 are provided in bar 2i), each of which holes serve as a center of rotation for the device when a pin is passed through it to a drawing board beneath. A mark 27 is placed at the end of offset portion 23 to assist in accurately locating bar 20 along scale S on arm 13. If it is only desired to draw a plurality of rectangles of the same or different sizes not disposed on the circumference of a circle the bar 20 may be removed from the assembled squares.

To draw on a sheet a series of rectangles located on the circumference of a circle, the bar 20 is moved until mark 27 is located at a desired point on the scale S. Thumb nut 24 is tightened. The squares 10 and 10' are adjusted to form the desired size rectangle and thumb nuts 15 and 15 are tightened. A tack or pin 28 (Fig. 3) is inserted in one of holes 26 to serve as a center of rotation and the template is placed on a drawing board over the sheet. The template is now ready for use. In Fig. 3 is shown a plurality of rectangles 29 as they would appear while being drawn with the aid of the template, all disposed along the circumference of a circle with pin 28 at its center. It is particularly important to note that each rectangle is made directly in ink without lifting the template from the drawing sheet.

Since the bottom surface of the template is raised up a 3 off the surface of the sheet ink cannot smear as it is applied and as the template is swung on an arc to the next rectangles position.

When a plurality'of rectangles are desired b drawn all lying on a straight line, a ruler or straight edge'is placed adjacent the line and the template is placed so that'the outer edge of scale S 'of arm'14' lies just'above the line. A rectangle can then be drawn in one continuons motion. The template is then moved-along the straight edge a desired distance and anothe'r're'ctangle is drawn. 'Arm' 13 may be placed in contact with the straight edge if bar Zll'i's' removed." If a thin straight edge guide, T' square,'qr ruler havinga thickness less than that of template elevating nut 17 a'nds'crew head 19 is used, then the template can be slid'along thestraight edge with any of the'afrms of the square lying above the guide and with the guide contacting the elevating'nut 17 and screwhead 19.

In Figs. 5 and 6 are shown a modification of the invention in whicha plurality of arms 30'having slots 31 are joined by thumbnuts 32 and screws 33. Each screw '33'has'a flat head 34lfor raising the template above the surface of'a drawing sheet. Bar. 20 With'holcs 26 is attached to one arm 30 by thumbnut 24 and screw 25. A plurality of triangles of the same or different shapes and sizes maybe drawn with this form of template. The triangles may be drawn disposed around the circumference of a circle by use of radial bar 20.

V In Fig.7, the arms 30' are shown attached by screws 33 and 32' to form'a parallelogram. Bar 20 likewise provides meansjfor drawing parallelograrns disposed in a circle.

g It is also possible by employing the principles heretofore disclosed to construct templates for drawing polygons of any desired shape and size, in accordance with the invention.

' While'I have illustrated and described the preferred embodiment of my invention, it is to be understood that I do not limit myself to the precise construction herein disclosed and 'the' right is reserved to all changes and modifications coming within the scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims. Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by United States Letters Patent 1. A drafting template for use with a drawing sheet comprising a'plurality"'of superimposed flat L-shaped scaled squares, each square having a slot disposed on a medial line substantially the entire length of each arm of the square, means for adjustably fastening said squares together in rectangular formation, said means projecting a predetermined distance from one side of said squares, means projecting from the corners of the squares a dis- 'tance equal to said predetermined distance for raising the squares above the surface of the drawing sheet whereby smearing of ink on the sheet is prevented, said template having a flat bar perpendicularly disposed with respect to onearm of the squares, and adjustable fastening means for positioning said bar along said one arm, said bar having a plurality of aligned holes disposed substantially the entire length of the bar whereby the entire template may be rotated with any of said holes serving as a center of rotation.

2. A drafting template in'accordance with claim 1 in which said bar has an end portion offset from the plane ofthe bar and abutting said one arm.

3. A drafting template in accordance with claim 2.

in which said fastening means projects beyond the plane of saidone arm a distance equal to said predetermined distance. r

'4.- A drafting'template' for use with a drawing sheet comprising a plurality of L-shaped squares superimposed to form a rectangle with plural means projecting from the corners of the rectangle for raising the squares'a predetermined distance above the sheet to prevent smearing of ink on the sheet, said template including a flat bar perpendicularly attached at one end to one side of said-rectangle, said bar being slida-ble along said side,

said bar being-provided with at least one hole for. rotating the template par allel'to said drawing sheet.

References Cited the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,183,977 Hoefle May 23, 1916 1 1,904,109 Wendorf Apr. .18, 1933 2,389,303 Forslund Nov. 20, 1945 FOREIGN PATENTS Clark Aug. 16, 1892 

